Tarasov scores twice, including winner, as Sharks top IceCaps

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- The Worcester Sharks used a big third period rally to secure two important points in the American Hockey League's Eastern Conference.

Rookie Daniil Tarasov scored twice, including the winner with 91 seconds left in regulation, as the Sharks beat the St. John's IceCaps 3-2 on Tuesday.

The Sharks (21-18-6) scored twice in the last five minutes to take the first game of the back-to-back series and jump three points up on the IceCaps, and into seventh-place in the conference.

"In our situation right now, a team that's a point ahead of us in the standings, it's a devastating loss for us," said Jason Jaffray, who scored both goals for St. John's (21-23-3).

"It's a game where we can jump over that team and into the playoff picture. To let it slip away in the last three or four minutes of the game is heart-breaking."

Bracken Kearns had a goal and two assists, and Tim Kennedy added three assists for the Sharks.

Jaffray said that Tuesday's game was rough, but not as bad as last year's games against the Sharks, which saw both teams combine for more than 60 penalty minutes in each game.

"The games last year were nothing compared to tonight," he said. "I mean obviously the games last year I think we broke records for the amount of penalty minutes we had in the game. This team is always known to be tough and hard-nosed and we wouldn't expect anything different from them."

IceCaps head coach Keith McCambridge was frustrated that his team gave up a lead in such a critical game.

"You have a chance to win the game, they draw even and they go ahead with the lead and get two very important points," said McCambridge.

"Whenever you have the chance to close out a team, you have to realize how you need to play with a lead. We got ourselves in trouble and we lost the two points."

St. John's was one for five on the power play and Worcester was one for three.